The above article describes a devastating fire at the Mt. Verd Cotton Mill three miles from Athens, TN. It appeared in The Weekly Herald, July 10, 1879. James McElwee and his brother Franklin B. McElwee, Athens residents, owned and operated the mill. As evidenced by two articles below, the former was not fatally injured, and plans for reconstruction of the mill were soon underway.

The article regarding James McElwee's speedy recovery followed on July 17, 1879, in The Weekly Herald.

The last article about plans for reconstruction of the mill was published in The Knoxville Daily Chronicle on July 19, 1879.

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"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL." DEUTERONOMY 5 : 19

This site is dedicated to the memory of my mother Beulah Cline Nipper, a beautiful product of the Knobs.

Public Domain, but please include this site in your sources

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Sandra Ratledge

All you kinfolks, put some mail in that old box!